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| Cameron: Long way to go on NHS care | Cameron: Long way to go on NHS care |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News | By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News |
| David Cameron says there is still a "long way to go" to raise standards of care in the NHS in England. | David Cameron says there is still a "long way to go" to raise standards of care in the NHS in England. |
| The prime minister's concession comes after a series of critical reports and ahead of the findings of a public inquiry into care at Stafford Hospital. | The prime minister's concession comes after a series of critical reports and ahead of the findings of a public inquiry into care at Stafford Hospital. |
| Mr Cameron said he wanted to make improving care one of his top priorities for 2013. | Mr Cameron said he wanted to make improving care one of his top priorities for 2013. |
| But he insisted progress was being made, pointing to new initiatives that were being rolled out. | But he insisted progress was being made, pointing to new initiatives that were being rolled out. |
| He highlighted a new "friends and family" test starting in April and the extra ward rounds being put in place. | |
| The "friends and family" test, which has already been announced, involves all hospital patients being asked whether they would recommend the place they were treated in. | The "friends and family" test, which has already been announced, involves all hospital patients being asked whether they would recommend the place they were treated in. |
| It has been based on the customer surveys some of the most successful companies, such as Apple, have used in recent years. | It has been based on the customer surveys some of the most successful companies, such as Apple, have used in recent years. |
| In time it will be rolled out to other parts of the health service, including GP surgeries, district nursing and community hospitals. | In time it will be rolled out to other parts of the health service, including GP surgeries, district nursing and community hospitals. |
| 'Best possible care' | 'Best possible care' |
| Mr Cameron said the initiative was part of a drive to improve care standards in 2013, which also involved a focus on dementia, extra training for staff and more nursing rounds, which are now in place in nine out of 10 hospitals. | |
| The prime minister said: "We still have a long way to go to raise standards across the NHS and get rid of those cases of poor and completely unacceptable care that blight some hospitals and homes. | The prime minister said: "We still have a long way to go to raise standards across the NHS and get rid of those cases of poor and completely unacceptable care that blight some hospitals and homes. |
| "I want every hospital to give every patient the best possible care." | "I want every hospital to give every patient the best possible care." |
| But he also praised the "incredible job" he said he knew many nurses were doing. | But he also praised the "incredible job" he said he knew many nurses were doing. |
| His intervention comes after both the Care Quality Commission and Patients Association published reports towards the end of last year raising concerns about the quality of care. | His intervention comes after both the Care Quality Commission and Patients Association published reports towards the end of last year raising concerns about the quality of care. |
| The CQC warned its inspections were showing that services were struggling in areas such as dignity and respect, nutrition, care and welfare. | The CQC warned its inspections were showing that services were struggling in areas such as dignity and respect, nutrition, care and welfare. |
| Meanwhile, the Patients Association published a dossier of 13 "appalling" cases of care given to NHS patients to highlight what it said was a wider malaise. | Meanwhile, the Patients Association published a dossier of 13 "appalling" cases of care given to NHS patients to highlight what it said was a wider malaise. |
| The Francis Inquiry into the hundreds of "needless deaths" at Stafford Hospital between 2005 and 2008 is likely to add to these criticisms when it is published in the coming weeks. | The Francis Inquiry into the hundreds of "needless deaths" at Stafford Hospital between 2005 and 2008 is likely to add to these criticisms when it is published in the coming weeks. |
| Katherine Murphy, of the Patients Association, said she agreed there was still much to do to improve care, but she said the "friends and family" test was too simplified to drive improvements. | Katherine Murphy, of the Patients Association, said she agreed there was still much to do to improve care, but she said the "friends and family" test was too simplified to drive improvements. |
| Peter Carter, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, welcomed the new test, but said it was also important to keep supporting nurses, through training and resources, so they could keep doing their jobs to the best of their ability. | |
| "Providing the best quality care for patients has always been at the heart of nursing," he added. | "Providing the best quality care for patients has always been at the heart of nursing," he added. |
| Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said: "If David Cameron really wants to give patients the best care, he should step in to support the NHS front-line, stop the job losses and ensure that every hospital in England has safe staffing levels." | Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said: "If David Cameron really wants to give patients the best care, he should step in to support the NHS front-line, stop the job losses and ensure that every hospital in England has safe staffing levels." |